Opening this up to community recs! First let me explain why this list is important to me. This has been my side project as a reader for the past few years (I'm a slowish reader and taking my time is part of the process 🌸). I realized it was really difficult to find books and stories by BIPOC authors that were just fun and relaxing, especially outside of kidlit, MG, YA, and romance genres. I began searching for books (without a library :') I do my best) that would help me soothe my nervous system, to relax before bed, that weren't self-help or riddled with forced toxic positivity. I reached a point where I really needed literature where my socio-cultural realities and those I'm adjacent to can feel seen and celebrated outside of bleakness and other-ness. Literature where hope and liberation for bipoc bodies and voices aren't just questions on pages but actually lifted into full visions.

When 'cozy fantasy' branched off into its own sub-genre, I was thrilled, but quickly discovered there was very little to no room for bipoc authors. The assumption is there's very little demand for cozy bipoc stories, and maybe that's true in the marketplace, but the market can also be a catalyst for change. Other lists on other platforms tend to feature books with very triggering scenes and themes. That was just not what I was craving for as a reader. I didn't want cozy only as an afterthought or pockets of relief between epic, emotionally fraught scenes weighted down by trauma and history that publishers are so used to demanding from bipoc authors. There's a time and place for this, and it's important! But it wasn't enough. I needed cozy stories that felt relatable to bipocs by bipocs, and cozy fantasy worlds without the whitewashing.

I don't have enough cozy fantasy recs for this so I decided to include books that still fit my definition of cozy, with hopes for more visibility on the need for stories where we are actively envisioning worlds and possibilities that we can rest in and with. Books that we, too, can feel seen by while sighing in relief, in deep exhale with 🤎

Looking for more adult fiction, SFF, and poetry recs by queer, trans, disabled, global south bipoc authors 🙌🏽

Recs should not include intense scenes or descriptions of triggering themes. I'm requesting for no violence, gore, abuse, unresolved trauma, or sexual assault/harassment/rape/gender-based violence for these recs. Difficult themes or realities should not be at the foreground of the story or the book - eg. themes like war and colonialism mentioned briefly or as background worldbuilding can be okay as long as they're not part of the main impact of the story.

I'm limiting Japanese light novels for this since it has its own genre/industry, and avoiding cozy horror and mystery for this list (I'm not as well-read with these yet, but I do think they should be in their own lists).

I'll do my best to vet incoming recs. If you spot a title that shouldn't be on here, plz lmk with a reason. Thank you for reading/recommending, and happy reading if you explore any of these recs 💚

Thank you so much for putting together this list and for all the thoughtfulness and care you’ve put into it. I was looking for recommendations specifically for this! I will pop back in if I come across any recs too. Thank you thank you again!!

This is such an awesome list, thank you!

love this idea!

This is such a cool and well-thought list! I'm realizing that I don't know any cozy books from my own country. Going to do some research and come back when I have a rec for you!

I love this!!

Wowow what a beautiful list 💕 love this!

I want to recommend Meru by S.B. Divya. I read it a few years ago so from what I can remember it doesn't include any of what you mentioned, though chronic illness / ableism is a big theme of the story, which is personal for the author. I recently read The Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping, which is on this list, and I'd say the cozy vibes are fairly similar, just in a sci-fi setting! I'll understand if you don't add it though, loving this list regardless!

This is such a beautiful list! Might I add 'That time I got drunk and saved a demon'? The FMC is a woman of color, but it is not really a part of the story, she just is 🧡